CBSE Class 12 Previous Year Solved Papers
Previous year question papers are the gold standard of board exam preparation. Solving CBSE Class 12 previous year question papers gives students an authentic understanding of what to expect on exam day — the difficulty level, types of questions, recurring topics, and time pressure of actual board exams. For the 2027 Board Exams, students should ideally solve papers from the last 10 to 12 years.
Why Solve CBSE Class 12 Previous Year Papers?
Solving previous year question papers (PYQPs) offers multiple strategic advantages:
|
Benefit |
Description |
|
Understand Real Exam Pattern |
Papers show the actual difficulty and structure of board exams |
|
Identify Repeated Questions |
Certain topics and question types repeat almost every year |
|
Improve Time Management |
Full-length paper practice builds speed and accuracy |
|
Boost Confidence |
Solving papers successfully before the exam reduces anxiety |
|
Self-Assessment |
Comparing with the marking scheme reveals genuine preparation gaps |
|
Understand Examiner's Expectations |
Marking schemes tell you exactly what CBSE wants in answers |
CBSE Class 12 Previous Year Papers — Year-Wise Availability
|
Year |
Status |
Key Feature |
|
2024 |
Available |
First full-syllabus post-COVID paper; increased CBQs |
|
2023 |
Available |
Competency-based questions introduced at higher proportion |
|
2022 |
Available |
Term 1 (MCQ-based) + Term 2 (descriptive); special format |
|
2021 |
Available |
COVID year; Term-based special pattern |
|
2020 |
Available |
Pre-COVID full syllabus; standard format |
|
2019 |
Available |
Classic format; highly relevant for pattern study |
|
2018 |
Available |
Useful for derivations, long answer practice |
|
2017 |
Available |
Good for variety in numericals |
|
2016 |
Available |
Conceptual questions; strong for Science subjects |
|
2015 |
Available |
Traditional format; good for foundational practice |
Note: 2021 and 2022 papers followed a modified COVID pattern. Focus more on 2023 and 2024 papers for the most relevant practice.
Subject-Wise Analysis of CBSE Class 12 Previous Year Papers
Physics — Frequently Asked Topics (Last 10 Years)
|
Topic |
Frequency of Appearance |
|
Coulomb's Law & Electric Field |
Every year |
|
Magnetic Field due to Current (Biot-Savart / Ampere's Law) |
Every year |
|
Lens Formula and Refraction |
Every year |
|
Young's Double Slit Experiment |
Almost every year |
|
Photoelectric Effect |
Every year |
|
Radioactivity / Half-Life Numerical |
Every year |
|
Logic Gates (NAND/NOR) |
Every year |
|
Electromagnetic Induction Numerical |
Almost every year |
Chemistry — Frequently Asked Topics (Last 10 Years)
|
Topic |
Frequency |
|
Kohlrausch's Law (Electrochemistry) |
Every year |
|
Order and Rate of Reaction |
Every year |
|
IUPAC Nomenclature of Coordination Compounds |
Every year |
|
Aldol Condensation, Cannizzaro Reaction |
Every year |
|
Distinction Tests (Aldehydes vs Ketones) |
Almost every year |
|
Colligative Properties Numerical |
Every year |
|
Nucleic Acids Structure (Biomolecules) |
Almost every year |
Mathematics — Frequently Asked Topics (Last 10 Years)
|
Topic |
Frequency |
|
Determinants (find value, solve system) |
Every year |
|
Continuity and Differentiability |
Every year |
|
Integration (by parts, definite integrals) |
Every year |
|
Area under Curves |
Every year |
|
Linear Programming (word problem) |
Every year |
|
3D Geometry (angle, shortest distance) |
Every year |
|
Bayes' Theorem / Probability |
Every year |
|
Inverse Trigonometric Functions |
Almost every year |
Biology — Frequently Asked Topics (Last 10 Years)
|
Topic |
Frequency |
|
Menstrual Cycle Diagram |
Every year |
|
Monohybrid / Dihybrid Cross |
Every year |
|
DNA Replication / Transcription |
Every year |
|
PCR and its Steps |
Almost every year |
|
Adaptive Radiation / Darwin's Theory |
Almost every year |
|
Lymphocytes and Immunity Types |
Every year |
|
Ecological Pyramids |
Almost every year |
Accountancy — Frequently Asked Topics (Last 10 Years)
|
Topic |
Frequency |
|
Reconstitution of Partnership (Admission) |
Every year |
|
Goodwill Calculation and Treatment |
Every year |
|
Retirement and Death of Partner |
Every year |
|
Dissolution of Partnership Firm |
Every year |
|
Issue of Shares at Premium/Discount |
Every year |
|
Cash Flow Statement |
Almost every year |
|
Ratio Analysis |
Almost every year |
How to Use CBSE Previous Year Solved Papers Strategically
Using previous year papers is not just about solving them — it is about learning from them. Here is a structured approach:
Step-by-Step Method
-
Phase 1 (September–October): Complete NCERT and basic revision.
-
Phase 2 (November–December): Start solving papers from 2024 and 2023 to understand the current pattern.
-
Phase 3 (January–February): Solve 2–3 papers per week under full exam conditions.
-
Phase 4 (March — before exam): Revise marking schemes; focus on answers where you lost marks.
|
Month |
Activity |
|
August–October |
Complete NCERT syllabus; chapter-wise practice |
|
November |
Solve 2024 and 2023 papers; identify weak areas |
|
December |
Solve 2022, 2021, 2020 papers; targeted revision |
|
January |
Solve 2019 and 2018 papers; cover recurring topics |
|
February |
Full mock tests; refine answer writing |
|
March |
Quick revision; focus on high-yield repeated topics |
CBSE 12 Years Solved Papers — What to Expect
When you solve 10–12 years of CBSE Class 12 papers, you will notice:
-
Recurring numerical patterns in Physics, Chemistry, and Maths with similar values but different setups
-
Identical question stems reused for different chapters
-
Consistent diagram questions — especially in Biology and Physics
-
Writing-format questions (letters, articles) in English that follow similar prompts
-
Accountancy journal entries that follow the same principles year after year
This pattern recognition is invaluable — students who solve a large volume of past papers rarely encounter completely unfamiliar question formats in the actual board exam.
Where to Access CBSE Previous Year Question Papers
|
Source |
Access Type |
|
cbseacademic.nic.in |
Free official PDF download |
|
cbse.gov.in |
Official CBSE portal |
|
DIKSHA Platform |
Free digital access |
|
School repositories |
School-distributed printed copies |
For students who want solved papers with detailed step-by-step explanations and examiner comments, Oswaal Books publish 12-year solved paper compilations for Class 12 that include topic-wise analysis and scoring strategies — useful when you want to understand not just the answer, but also why a particular approach scores full marks.
Tips for Solving Previous Year Papers Effectively
-
Never look at solutions first. Attempt the entire paper independently before checking answers.
-
Use only the prescribed tools. Use a ruler, compass, and pen as you would in the real exam.
-
Write complete answers. Partial writing habits lead to avoidable mark losses.
-
Study the marking scheme in detail. Understand what constitutes a full-mark answer.
-
Re-attempt weak questions. After reviewing the solution, try writing the answer again from memory.
Other Recommended Books | Study Materials (All Subjects)
|
CBSE Sample Papers Class 12 | For 2026 Board Exams |
|
|
CBSE Question Banks Class 12 | For 2027 Board Exams |
|
|
CBSE Previous Year Question Papers Class 12 | For 2027 Board Exams |
|
|
NCERT Exemplar Class 12 | For Latest Board Exams |
|
|
CBSE One for All Class 12 | For 2027 Board Exams |
|
|
CBSE Syllabus Class 12 | For 2027 Board Exams |
|
|
CBSE Class 12 Notes | For 2027 Board Exams |
|
|
NCERT Books Class 12 | For 2027 Board Exams |
|
|
Free CBSE ICSE Specimen Sample Books for Teachers |
Practice Comprehensively with Oswaal360 CBSE Online Courses for Class 12 Board Exams 2027
Practice Now with Free Oswaal360 Online Mock Test for CBSE Class 12 Board Exams 2027
Are You a Teacher? Apply for FREE CBSE Class 12 Specimen Sample Books for Teachers from our end.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ideally, solve the last 5–7 years for pattern relevance. Add 2019–2020 papers for extra variety. Avoid over-relying on 2021–2022 COVID-era papers as they followed a non-standard format.
Yes. CBSE provides official previous year papers on its academic portal (cbseacademic.nic.in) free of charge.
Solve the latest CBSE sample paper first (it reflects the current year's blueprint), then move to recent previous year papers (2024, 2023) for pattern continuity.
While the exact same question rarely repeats, the topics, concepts, and sometimes the format of questions do repeat significantly — especially in Maths, Chemistry, and Accountancy.
